Editor's note: This story has been updated since it was originally published.

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- The UIL discussed sanctioning several sports during its legislative council meeting Tuesday.

It plans to monitor the growth and viability of lacrosse and step --a dance competition -- for example. And it will survey coaches and officials involved with water polo about the prospect of UIL recognition.

But the longest and most in-depth discussion Tuesday involved an activity that won't require a field, court or much physical exertion: esports.

The policy committee decided to continue studying the impact and opportunities associated with the fast-growing video game craze that's established a pipeline for college scholarships and professional opportunities.

"In this particular area of gaming," UIL deputy director Jamey Harrison said, "it's probably a point of when, rather than if."

Harrison said the UIL has noticed the growth of esports in the past, but Tuesday represented the most formal consideration.

Patrick Neff, a Ball High School teacher in Galveston ISD, presented the push for esports to receive UIL sanction during the public hearing, and then officials discussed it during the policy committee meeting.

Questions about esports inclusion included whether the activity would fit under the UIL's sports or academics domain and how the UIL would structure its operation and rules.

Harrison said the committee plans to talk with teachers and officials involved with school-specific esports clubs and to contact the National Federation of State High School Associations about models from other states that already sponsor esports.

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That several colleges in Texas, including North Texas, UT-Dallas and UT-Arlington, offer esports varsity teams or scholarships and that two professional Overwatch League teams, Dallas Fuel and Houston Outlaws, have increased the activity's visibility in the state were positive points for the committee.

“Social development, working as a team, communicating, strategizing, learning to do something you’re bad at, practice and get better,” Neff said, “all of those things can translate into an esports program.”

Correction, 11:15 a.m. June 20: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that UT-Dallas offered scholarships for esports. While UT-Dallas offers varsity competition for several titles, it does not currently offer scholarships.

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Callie Caplan, Staff Writer. Callie Caplan covers the Dallas Mavericks, high school football and Olympic sports. She has also written for The Washington Post, USA Today and The Baltimore Sun and graduated from the University of Maryland in 2017.